POPASMOKE VISIONS GALLERY

A Personal Perspective

Dong Ha Ammo Dump

Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive... Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour

I was there on that day.I lived in one of those tents,because we lived twenty-five feet from the runway.We maintained the runway,when we could and we also flew on choppers as gunmen.The tent looks like where I lived.That was just one of a number of ammo games,because they could see the runway from a building in town.They had no problem hitting the runway,ammo dump,huts,and anything near the area.There was also a control tower near the runway and the ammo dump which was operated by MATCU-62 people.I remember the 11th engineers and also the Seabees,and other marine outfits,living away from the runway and the ammo dump.I don't remember what chopper outfits I flew in,but I would love to get a CD,just to see what is on those images.At that time,I was in Marine Air Group 32.When I was flying,it was in a CH-46 and we had 50 caliber machine guns.Please let me know what it will take to receive a CD.Thanx.The image is outstanding. -Submitted by: Robert Clinton [rtclint@aol.com] 2006-06-05